The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-07
Changes in the Council Ordinance De-
sired by the Standard Oil Company.
The Manufacturers Agree to Recommend the
Proposed Amendments-The Company's
Schedule of Charges to Gas Consumers.
A Saving of so Per Cent. in Fuel by
Manufacturers Is Assured.
The Agents Make Some Concessions, but Sue
coed in Getting the Ordinance Changed
in About the Manner They Desire.

AL the members of the manufacturers com
mittee appointed to consider the natural gas
pipe-line project were present at the called meet
Ing, at the Dsnison House parlors, last night.
Edward III. Dean presided, and Mr.. Ewald Over
acted secretary. Messrs. Payne and Mans
field were present, accompanied by their attor-
ney, Major Calkins. The special purpose OF the
meeting was to confer with the representatives OF
the Standard Oil Company on an ordinance that
would be satisfactory to the manufacturers as
the most interested persons. and one under
which the company would agree to come to the
city.
Acting on the suggestion Of Judge Martndale,
the ordinance, as it had been amended by the
manufacturers at previous meeting, was taken
up and read section by section. and thoroughly
discussed by the manufacturers and the repre-
Fentatives of the Standard Trust. Both parties
agreed upon the first section.
The second section, pertaining to the bond a
company should give for the faithful perform
ance of its work and for indemnifying the city
against damage from explosions, had been
amended by the committee, changing the bond
from $4,000 to $4,000. Colonel Payne said the
company preferred the $4,000 bond but the
committee took the ground that such large
bond would have the tendency to prevent COM
petition and the sum was allowed to remain at
$10 OOO The original section provided that the
company should keep the streets in good con-
dition two years after the laying Of the pipes,
but Mr.. Payne objected to that and the commit
tee changed the time to one year.
Section four, it was believed, needed but few
changes. 1t provided that the work should not
begin until plan showing the streets and alleys
had been furnished the city engineer. Mr..
pa afnd hiatt ivry drof
specific plan that could be followed. for obstruc-
lions and hindrances of different kinds were sure
to be met that necessitated changes. Instead Of
. specific plan he asked for the insertion of the
word general" and the committee consented.
The ordinance presented more objection
able features until the eighth section
reached Among other things it provided that
the company should lay pipes to the property
line of residences. Mr.. Payne said that in all
other cities they had stopped at the curbstone
and could not afford to go further 1t was sug-
gested by Mr.. K. c. Atkins that the ordinance
provided for the laying of pipes in alleys far
as practicable, where there were no curbstones.
After considerable discussion Mr. Payne con-
scented to furnish pipes to the edge of the hold
srs' property and the section was allowed to
pass unamended.
jectionable to Mr.. Payne, because 1t was
worded that any consumer could ask and secure
q gauge from the Council for his house The
gauges, Mr. Payne said. were very costly, ard,
while IL was necessary for the company TO have
them. they preferred to be their own judges of
how many they should put in An amendments
was substituted providing that the company
should put in reasonable number of gauges,
the location to be agreed upon by the company
and the CITY engineer.
Section eleven, providing for the furnishing of
free gas to the city, and fixing the price for
consumers, was the stumbling block, u Without
having the original section read, Major Calkins
stated that the section would be the
one that would decide whether or not
the company would here, and
then announced that Colonel Payne had a sub
stitute for it that he desired to offer if the
mittee was willing to hear him. The committee
consented, and Colonel Payne presented the fol-
loving substitute. stopping at intervals to an
swer questions that were asked him: e5
II. consideration of the of the streets avenues
1a.es and public grounds of the city, and for the
granting OF this franchise all corporations compa
MES and individuals awaiting themselves of the
right under this ordinance shall a condition the
exercise of the franchise herein granted furnish
ural gas the for and the schedule of
prices following: For domestic purposes the maximum
prices shall not be than % per higher than
the following schedule:
FOR HEATING.